Derrick Green had three caps in front of him during his college announcement on Saturday, but that’s not how he made his decision known. When it came time to reveal his college choice, he stepped down off the stage, hit a switch, and the projector screen behind the stage slowly went up to reveal a maize and blue No. 27 jersey.

Michigan beat out Auburn and Tennessee, the other two caps resting in front of Green and his family. Green had taken official visits to all three schools.

Derrick Green, one of the nation's top running backs, chose Michigan over Tennessee and Auburn during a Saturday announcement. (Nike Photo)

“I’ll be taking my talents to … the University of Michigan,” Green said with a broad smile. In recent weeks, Michigan had been considered the slight favorite. The Wolverines and coach Brady Hoke are committed to bringing a bruising style of football back to Ann Arbor (Mich.), and a physical running game on offense.

When Green told Hoke of his decision earlier in the day, the coach became very emotional, Green told 247Sports.com.

"He was real excited,” Green told 247Sports. “I kept him on his toes. But when I told him today he was just astound and actually started crying. It was crazy, it was an unbelievable experience.”

Green, with his 4.31-second speed in the 40-yard dash and powerful 6-0, 220-pound frame, fits perfectly.

An impressive offensive line class also is key. Green had said in recent interviews that he felt like he would get a lot of playing time as a freshman at Michigan.

The Richmond (Va.) native is rated No. 13 overall in the Sporting News Top 125. Florida State, Miami and USC were just three other schools that also had seriously pursued Green. In the process, Michigan’s consensus top-five ranked class landed its best recruit of the year.

“College coaches like my speed at 4.31 in the 40-yard dash,” Green told Sporting News in his last interview. “They also like my size at 220 (pounds), my vision, my hands, my power and the yards I get after contact. It’s usually between four and seven more yards. That’s what makes me a BCS-level recruit.”

Green rushed for 1,285 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior. Michigan now has 27 commitments for the signing class of 2013—which will be able to sign on Feb. 6.

"I definitely plan to come out and go hard every day on the field and off the field," he said to 247Sports.com. "I have a great relationship with my position coach, Coach (Fred) Jackson, and like I said I’m just going to go there and grind my freshman year and do what I have to do on the field."